Even weakened, the Arizona Outlaws have always posed a threat to the Philadelphia Liberty. Last week, the more successful of the two expansion teams traveled to what used to be the most successful of the original teams in an effort to keep their undefeated record…still undefeated. Okay, I suck at the fluff part.
Philly elected to receive, and would take the first snap from their own 12 yard line after an underwhelming kick return from Damien Kroetch. On the first play QB Tyler Oles would be sacked by LB Harrif Ernston, who would follow that up by stopping the very next play by getting a hand on the next pass. An incomplete pass would end the drive, and a mediocre punt gave Arizona the ball at midfield.
Arizona QB King Bronko dropped back on first down, finding an open Budda Browning for an 11 yard completion before Kevin Cushing would bring him down. This would begin a battle between the former teammates that would last the entire game. Arizona would then rush 5 consecutive times, with Omar Wright and and Reg Mackworthy combining for 31 yards before Arizona went back to passing. That proved to be a poor decision, as Bronko would see passes to Browning, Booter, then Mackworthy all dropped. Dean Jackson would come out and cleanly kick through the 26 yarder, putting Arizona up 3-0.
This time, Kroetch would streak down the right side for a 39 yard return, but the ensuing drive would end up almost identical, with Oles getting sacked by Ernston again before two incomplete passes. Harris would come out and give Arizona a start on their own 13 yard line, at least forcing the Outlaws to do a lot more work if they wanted to score again. Fortunately, after an incomplete pass to Browning and then Booter again, Vikain Marmeladov would come in on a blitz and knock Arizona back to their own 7 on third down, forcing a punt.
Philadelphia would start at their own 40 after a 5 yard return from Paul DiMirio, the best position so far. After an incomplete pass to Josh Garden and an 8 yard rush by Kroetch, the Liberty faced a very manageable 3rd and 2 that would fail on an incomplete pass to DiMirio. Harris would be called out for a third time, this time booting it into the end zone.
Mackworthy would lead off with back to back runs for 5 yards, but then Arizona would catch Philly off guard by rushing it with Omar Wright for a seven yard gain on a 3rd and 5. The chains moved, and Bronko passed to C.A. Chess for 6 yards before going back to Mackworthy for 5 yards, picking up the second first down of the drive. The momentum would seemingly end as former teammate Jaylon Lee would sack Bronko for 6 yards, followed by a third incomplete pass to Budda Browning. On 3rd and 16, with a punt seemingly imminent, Bronko connected to Fresh Booter for 17 yards, bringing the Outlaws into Liberty territory for the second time of the night. Another 1st down run by Mackworthy, only this one would be stopped for a yard, setting up a 2nd and long that the Arizona offense would obliterate with a 25 yard pass to Chess before an 8 yard pass to Cooper Christmas. After getting sacked again by Jaylon Lee, Bronko would target Browning for the 5th time in the opening quarter, connecting for a 19 yard TD against Kevin Cushing to put the Outlaws up 10-0.
A 26 yard return would start Philly beyond the 30 for the third straight possession. This time, down two possessions, the Liberty offense would start coming together, starting with a completion to Kendrick Hendrix for 6 yards and then to Josh Garden for 29 before going BACK to Hendrix for another 8. Having moved the chains for the first time that night and finally broken into Outlaw territory. A penalty on Garden would kill the short-lived momentum, and two incomplete passes to Fox North would result in Harris punting for the fourth time, once again into the end zone.
Bronko would unsuccessfully look for Booter on first down before finding Chess for 14 yards and then scrambling on the next play for 10 yards. The first quarter would end with Micah Hendrix sacking Bronko (his fourth sack taken in one quarter).
FIRST QUARTER UPDATE, Cushing v Browning: 5 attempts, 2 completions, 30 yards, 1 TD. Passer Rating: 100.0
Back to back runs from Mackworthy would accrue 11 yards, and Dean Jackson would be called out for a punt into the Liberty end zone, where the synch starting to form on the last drive would begin to amount to something. After an incomplete pass to Garden and a 3 yard rush from Kroetch, Oles would step up on the 3rd and 7 by completing to North for 15, then following it up with a pass to Kroetch for 46, returning to Outlaw territory. A completion to DiMirio for 8 would set up the Liberty inside the 10, but back to back incompletions to Garden and North would lead to Harris being called in for a field goal rather than another punt. The field goal was good, and Philadelphia cut the lead to 10-3.
A strong return from Mackworthy set up the Outlaws on the 36, but 3 straight incompletions to Chess, Christmas, and Booter would result in a punt from Jackson. Oles would fail to find DiMirio, then hit Noth for 8 yards, before failing a second 3rd and 2 with a drop from Kroetch. Stephen Harris, on his fifth punt of the night, would pin Arizona on their own 2 yard line.
The Outlaws handed it to Mackworthy, who would get stuffed by Drew Davidson for a safety! Now 10-5, Arizona kicked off to Philly, setting them up at mid field. They handed off to Kroetch who would get 11 yards and a first down on 2 carries, then spell the back with Carter Bush, who rushed for 5. Oles attempted to follow that up by getting him his first catch as well, but he dropped it. Ernston broke up a pass to DiMirio, and Harris punted into the end zone again.
Bronko passed it to Mackworthy for an incomplete, then handed off to him for the same yardage before checking down to Booter for a 4 yard pass on 3rd and 10. A 50 yard punt by Jackson and a -2 yard return by DiMirio backed up Philly from smelling blood.
Oles looked to DiMirio on the drive-opening play, but came up empty. However, he would then find Garden for 18, DiMirio for 9, and North for 21 to bring the Liberty in to field goal range. Seemingly attempting the safe play, a 7 yard pass to Kroetch got intercepted by Allen Davis, and Arizona would start on their own 36.
Mackworthy began the drive with a 2 yard run before Bronko found Chess for 15. Omar Wright would make it 1st and 15 with a motion penalty, then almost make it irrelevant with an 11 yard rush. Bronko would look for Browning for the first time in the second, but Cushing got a hand on it, setting up a 3rd and 4. Arizona gave it to Mackworthy, but he only got 3, resulting in another punt from Jackson.
With only 1:58 remaining in the half and 80 yards from pay dirt, Oles found DiMirio for 14, immediately calling a time out. He’d then go incomplete to North before trying him again, successfully the second time, connecting for 18. Another time out followed by a 9 yard pass to DiMirio and the final timeout. Philadelphia had 11 seconds remaining from the Outlaws 39. Unsure of their ability to get off another play, the Liberty brought out Stephen Harris, who barely cleared the posts for a 56 yarder, cutting the lead to 10-8 at the end of the half.
SECOND QUARTER UPDATE, Cushing v Browning: 1 attempt, 0 completions, 0 yards. Passer Rating: 39.58
Second half began with a short, 16 yard return from Mackworthy, but Bronko immediately found Booter for 21. After a 5 yard run from Mackworthy, Bronko went right back to him, the second time for 41. He then found Christmas for 11, but trying again proved unsuccessful. On second and 10, though, Reg Mackworthy found a huge hole and rushed down the field for 32 yards and a big touchdown, bringing the lead back to two possessions at 17-8.
A 40 yard return by Kroetch gave Philly a short field, made 10 yards shorter after back to back runs. Oles hit DiMirio for 6 yards, then a bomb to North for 36 before going back to the tight end DiMirio for a 6 yard TD, cutting the lead back to 2 at 17-15.
Browning fielded the kick return for 13, but the long field wouldn’t daunt Bronko, who immediately completed to Mackworthy for 14 before handing it off to him for another 7. He then went back to Booter for 6 and then back to Mackworthy for 6 more, with Wright completing the devil’s mark. On 1st and 10, Wright moved the chains with a 10 yard carry, but Philly would finally stop a play with a 0 yard run after from Mackworthy. Unfortunately, Arizona wasn’t done, and Bronko hit Chess for 25 yards before following up to Browning for 9 yards and a TD! 24-15 Outlaws with 5:26 left in the 3rd.
A deep kick would be returned to the 19 by Kroetch, who would then carry for 3, catch for 18, then carry again for 5. Bush would spell him for another 5 yard carry, then QB Oles would sneak for no gain and Kroetch would follow the example. A long bomb to Garden on 3rd and 10 would net Philly 41 yards, with a blitz immediately following forcing a throw away. Kroetch carried for 4 and then Bush caught for 4 more, leaving a 4th and 2 on the 1 yard line, with Harris kicking the field goal to make it 24-18.
After a 43 yard return from Browning, back to back carries from Mackworthy net 9, ending the third quarter.
THIRD QUARTER UPDATE, Cushing v Browning: 1 attempts, 1 completion, 9 yards, 1 TD. Passer Rating: 143.75
The final quarter began with an incomplete pass to Mackworthy before a Jackson touchback punt.
Oles completed two consecutive passes to DiMirio for a combined 56 yards, then found North for 18 more. With the secondary scared, he found Carter Bush for a 6 yard pass, and Philadelphia took the lead for the first time at 25-24.
Mackworthy returned for 36, then it was Bronko’s turn to throw it away before handing it to Wright for 6. Bronko then looked back to Browning on 3rd, but he dropped it, forcing a punt that barely found the endzone.
For the first time, Philly had the lead and the ball. Not feeling safe with just a one point lead, Oles kept slinging it, not letting an initial incompletion to DiMirio stop him. Consecutive passes to Garden gave the Liberty 18 yards and a first, then a pass to Bush for 6 more, almost completely negated by a 5 yard sack from Wallace Stone. Oles would barely convert the 3rd and 9 by hitting DiMirio again for exact yardage, but on the next play, looking to return to Arizona territory, Allen Davis would strike again with his second interception, returning it to mid-field!
With 7:48 remaining, the Outlaws had only 50 yards separating them from the lead. A 6 yard run from Mackworthy and another 3 from Wright left a 3rd and short, but rather than run it Bronko would complete to Browning for 4. A 5 yard pass to Booter and 5 yard rush by Mackworthy would move the chains again, and Arizona now sat on Philly’s 27 with 5:17 to go, draining the clock to prevent another 2 minute drive. Bronko continued to trust Mackworthy by handing it to him for 7 and then passing to him for 6, then handing off again for 7 after a delay of game penalty. From the 12, with 3:48 remaining, Bronko would test Cushing again and once again find success, with Browning catching for 8 yards and setting up a first down on the Philadelphia 4 with 3:26 left to go. Naturally, the Liberty would be expecting a run and more clock killing, and Arizona decided to gamble on that by going for the kill on the one CB who had been the biggest liability in red zone coverage that night. Mid-way through the end zone Browning made his move, and Bronko aimed for him, only for Cushing to make the end zone interception, bringing it out the 8 yard line!
Back to back passes to Blessed Storm and Kendrick Hendrix would move the chains and bring the clock down to 1:31, and Philly would run it 3 times before punting it with 22 seconds remaining, leaving enough time for one gimmick play that only resulted in 5 yards. Final score: Liberty 25, Outlaws 24.
FOURTH QUARTER UPDATE, Cushing v Browning: 4 attempts, 2 completions, 12 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT. Passer Rating: 16.7
FINAL TALLY TO BROWNING: 11 att, 5 completions, 51 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT. Passer rating: 60.98
Philly elected to receive, and would take the first snap from their own 12 yard line after an underwhelming kick return from Damien Kroetch. On the first play QB Tyler Oles would be sacked by LB Harrif Ernston, who would follow that up by stopping the very next play by getting a hand on the next pass. An incomplete pass would end the drive, and a mediocre punt gave Arizona the ball at midfield.
Arizona QB King Bronko dropped back on first down, finding an open Budda Browning for an 11 yard completion before Kevin Cushing would bring him down. This would begin a battle between the former teammates that would last the entire game. Arizona would then rush 5 consecutive times, with Omar Wright and and Reg Mackworthy combining for 31 yards before Arizona went back to passing. That proved to be a poor decision, as Bronko would see passes to Browning, Booter, then Mackworthy all dropped. Dean Jackson would come out and cleanly kick through the 26 yarder, putting Arizona up 3-0.
This time, Kroetch would streak down the right side for a 39 yard return, but the ensuing drive would end up almost identical, with Oles getting sacked by Ernston again before two incomplete passes. Harris would come out and give Arizona a start on their own 13 yard line, at least forcing the Outlaws to do a lot more work if they wanted to score again. Fortunately, after an incomplete pass to Browning and then Booter again, Vikain Marmeladov would come in on a blitz and knock Arizona back to their own 7 on third down, forcing a punt.
Philadelphia would start at their own 40 after a 5 yard return from Paul DiMirio, the best position so far. After an incomplete pass to Josh Garden and an 8 yard rush by Kroetch, the Liberty faced a very manageable 3rd and 2 that would fail on an incomplete pass to DiMirio. Harris would be called out for a third time, this time booting it into the end zone.
Mackworthy would lead off with back to back runs for 5 yards, but then Arizona would catch Philly off guard by rushing it with Omar Wright for a seven yard gain on a 3rd and 5. The chains moved, and Bronko passed to C.A. Chess for 6 yards before going back to Mackworthy for 5 yards, picking up the second first down of the drive. The momentum would seemingly end as former teammate Jaylon Lee would sack Bronko for 6 yards, followed by a third incomplete pass to Budda Browning. On 3rd and 16, with a punt seemingly imminent, Bronko connected to Fresh Booter for 17 yards, bringing the Outlaws into Liberty territory for the second time of the night. Another 1st down run by Mackworthy, only this one would be stopped for a yard, setting up a 2nd and long that the Arizona offense would obliterate with a 25 yard pass to Chess before an 8 yard pass to Cooper Christmas. After getting sacked again by Jaylon Lee, Bronko would target Browning for the 5th time in the opening quarter, connecting for a 19 yard TD against Kevin Cushing to put the Outlaws up 10-0.
A 26 yard return would start Philly beyond the 30 for the third straight possession. This time, down two possessions, the Liberty offense would start coming together, starting with a completion to Kendrick Hendrix for 6 yards and then to Josh Garden for 29 before going BACK to Hendrix for another 8. Having moved the chains for the first time that night and finally broken into Outlaw territory. A penalty on Garden would kill the short-lived momentum, and two incomplete passes to Fox North would result in Harris punting for the fourth time, once again into the end zone.
Bronko would unsuccessfully look for Booter on first down before finding Chess for 14 yards and then scrambling on the next play for 10 yards. The first quarter would end with Micah Hendrix sacking Bronko (his fourth sack taken in one quarter).
FIRST QUARTER UPDATE, Cushing v Browning: 5 attempts, 2 completions, 30 yards, 1 TD. Passer Rating: 100.0
Back to back runs from Mackworthy would accrue 11 yards, and Dean Jackson would be called out for a punt into the Liberty end zone, where the synch starting to form on the last drive would begin to amount to something. After an incomplete pass to Garden and a 3 yard rush from Kroetch, Oles would step up on the 3rd and 7 by completing to North for 15, then following it up with a pass to Kroetch for 46, returning to Outlaw territory. A completion to DiMirio for 8 would set up the Liberty inside the 10, but back to back incompletions to Garden and North would lead to Harris being called in for a field goal rather than another punt. The field goal was good, and Philadelphia cut the lead to 10-3.
A strong return from Mackworthy set up the Outlaws on the 36, but 3 straight incompletions to Chess, Christmas, and Booter would result in a punt from Jackson. Oles would fail to find DiMirio, then hit Noth for 8 yards, before failing a second 3rd and 2 with a drop from Kroetch. Stephen Harris, on his fifth punt of the night, would pin Arizona on their own 2 yard line.
The Outlaws handed it to Mackworthy, who would get stuffed by Drew Davidson for a safety! Now 10-5, Arizona kicked off to Philly, setting them up at mid field. They handed off to Kroetch who would get 11 yards and a first down on 2 carries, then spell the back with Carter Bush, who rushed for 5. Oles attempted to follow that up by getting him his first catch as well, but he dropped it. Ernston broke up a pass to DiMirio, and Harris punted into the end zone again.
Bronko passed it to Mackworthy for an incomplete, then handed off to him for the same yardage before checking down to Booter for a 4 yard pass on 3rd and 10. A 50 yard punt by Jackson and a -2 yard return by DiMirio backed up Philly from smelling blood.
Oles looked to DiMirio on the drive-opening play, but came up empty. However, he would then find Garden for 18, DiMirio for 9, and North for 21 to bring the Liberty in to field goal range. Seemingly attempting the safe play, a 7 yard pass to Kroetch got intercepted by Allen Davis, and Arizona would start on their own 36.
Mackworthy began the drive with a 2 yard run before Bronko found Chess for 15. Omar Wright would make it 1st and 15 with a motion penalty, then almost make it irrelevant with an 11 yard rush. Bronko would look for Browning for the first time in the second, but Cushing got a hand on it, setting up a 3rd and 4. Arizona gave it to Mackworthy, but he only got 3, resulting in another punt from Jackson.
With only 1:58 remaining in the half and 80 yards from pay dirt, Oles found DiMirio for 14, immediately calling a time out. He’d then go incomplete to North before trying him again, successfully the second time, connecting for 18. Another time out followed by a 9 yard pass to DiMirio and the final timeout. Philadelphia had 11 seconds remaining from the Outlaws 39. Unsure of their ability to get off another play, the Liberty brought out Stephen Harris, who barely cleared the posts for a 56 yarder, cutting the lead to 10-8 at the end of the half.
SECOND QUARTER UPDATE, Cushing v Browning: 1 attempt, 0 completions, 0 yards. Passer Rating: 39.58
Second half began with a short, 16 yard return from Mackworthy, but Bronko immediately found Booter for 21. After a 5 yard run from Mackworthy, Bronko went right back to him, the second time for 41. He then found Christmas for 11, but trying again proved unsuccessful. On second and 10, though, Reg Mackworthy found a huge hole and rushed down the field for 32 yards and a big touchdown, bringing the lead back to two possessions at 17-8.
A 40 yard return by Kroetch gave Philly a short field, made 10 yards shorter after back to back runs. Oles hit DiMirio for 6 yards, then a bomb to North for 36 before going back to the tight end DiMirio for a 6 yard TD, cutting the lead back to 2 at 17-15.
Browning fielded the kick return for 13, but the long field wouldn’t daunt Bronko, who immediately completed to Mackworthy for 14 before handing it off to him for another 7. He then went back to Booter for 6 and then back to Mackworthy for 6 more, with Wright completing the devil’s mark. On 1st and 10, Wright moved the chains with a 10 yard carry, but Philly would finally stop a play with a 0 yard run after from Mackworthy. Unfortunately, Arizona wasn’t done, and Bronko hit Chess for 25 yards before following up to Browning for 9 yards and a TD! 24-15 Outlaws with 5:26 left in the 3rd.
A deep kick would be returned to the 19 by Kroetch, who would then carry for 3, catch for 18, then carry again for 5. Bush would spell him for another 5 yard carry, then QB Oles would sneak for no gain and Kroetch would follow the example. A long bomb to Garden on 3rd and 10 would net Philly 41 yards, with a blitz immediately following forcing a throw away. Kroetch carried for 4 and then Bush caught for 4 more, leaving a 4th and 2 on the 1 yard line, with Harris kicking the field goal to make it 24-18.
After a 43 yard return from Browning, back to back carries from Mackworthy net 9, ending the third quarter.
THIRD QUARTER UPDATE, Cushing v Browning: 1 attempts, 1 completion, 9 yards, 1 TD. Passer Rating: 143.75
The final quarter began with an incomplete pass to Mackworthy before a Jackson touchback punt.
Oles completed two consecutive passes to DiMirio for a combined 56 yards, then found North for 18 more. With the secondary scared, he found Carter Bush for a 6 yard pass, and Philadelphia took the lead for the first time at 25-24.
Mackworthy returned for 36, then it was Bronko’s turn to throw it away before handing it to Wright for 6. Bronko then looked back to Browning on 3rd, but he dropped it, forcing a punt that barely found the endzone.
For the first time, Philly had the lead and the ball. Not feeling safe with just a one point lead, Oles kept slinging it, not letting an initial incompletion to DiMirio stop him. Consecutive passes to Garden gave the Liberty 18 yards and a first, then a pass to Bush for 6 more, almost completely negated by a 5 yard sack from Wallace Stone. Oles would barely convert the 3rd and 9 by hitting DiMirio again for exact yardage, but on the next play, looking to return to Arizona territory, Allen Davis would strike again with his second interception, returning it to mid-field!
With 7:48 remaining, the Outlaws had only 50 yards separating them from the lead. A 6 yard run from Mackworthy and another 3 from Wright left a 3rd and short, but rather than run it Bronko would complete to Browning for 4. A 5 yard pass to Booter and 5 yard rush by Mackworthy would move the chains again, and Arizona now sat on Philly’s 27 with 5:17 to go, draining the clock to prevent another 2 minute drive. Bronko continued to trust Mackworthy by handing it to him for 7 and then passing to him for 6, then handing off again for 7 after a delay of game penalty. From the 12, with 3:48 remaining, Bronko would test Cushing again and once again find success, with Browning catching for 8 yards and setting up a first down on the Philadelphia 4 with 3:26 left to go. Naturally, the Liberty would be expecting a run and more clock killing, and Arizona decided to gamble on that by going for the kill on the one CB who had been the biggest liability in red zone coverage that night. Mid-way through the end zone Browning made his move, and Bronko aimed for him, only for Cushing to make the end zone interception, bringing it out the 8 yard line!
Back to back passes to Blessed Storm and Kendrick Hendrix would move the chains and bring the clock down to 1:31, and Philly would run it 3 times before punting it with 22 seconds remaining, leaving enough time for one gimmick play that only resulted in 5 yards. Final score: Liberty 25, Outlaws 24.
FOURTH QUARTER UPDATE, Cushing v Browning: 4 attempts, 2 completions, 12 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT. Passer Rating: 16.7
FINAL TALLY TO BROWNING: 11 att, 5 completions, 51 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT. Passer rating: 60.98
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Jurisprudence Jones, OL ![[Image: cYhSwFY.png]](https://i.imgur.com/cYhSwFY.png)
